Carl Sagan: A Life in the Cosmos: A Life in Science: Amazon.de: William Poundstone: Englische Bücher

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Science writer William Poundstone (and biographer of game-theory guru John von Neumann) begins this book of deftly strung anecdotes from the life of pop-science demigod Carl Sagan with the following anecdote: four-year-old Carl, a Jewish kid growing up near the Jersey shore, rides piggyback on his dad's shoulders into the 1939 World's Fair and the "World of Tomorrow." Surrounded by mocked-up "rocketports," GM's "Futurama," and the promise of outlandish technology to come, it's easy to imagine the impact on this little guy who was to become one of our century's most visionary and visible scientists. A childhood friend tells Poundstone that "from an early age Carl was seized with the fabulous mission of searching for life on other worlds," a quest that would dominate his entire professional career.

Poundstone recounts how this quest drove the immensely intelligent, ambitious, and charismatic Sagan, from his discovery of Arthur C. Clarke to his predictable adolescent chemistry-set accidents to his colorful academic career and professional work on the Viking and Voyager missions, nuclear disarmament, the award-winning Cosmos, and Robert Zemeckis' Contact. What recommends this biography most, though, isn't its completeness but its style: Poundstone has divided the 500-plus-page book into over 200 easily digestible, addictive little sections, each an entertaining or illuminating (or, often, laugh-out-loud) anecdote from Sagan's life, with titles like "Pornography in Space," "Muskrats, Drunkards, Extraterrestrials," and "Sagan Versus Apple Computer." (The in-house name for the mid-range PowerMac 7100 was "Carl Sagan," the joke being that it would make Apple "billions and billions." But forced to change it by Sagan, Apple switched to "BHA," later revealed to stand for "Butt-Head Astronomer"--Sagan sued for libel.) --Paul Hughes

From Booklist

When Sagan died in 1996, the cosmos lost one of its most fervent and eloquent admirers. A precocious Brooklyn boy, Sagan became enamored of science fiction, Greek and Roman mythology, and the stars and announced early on that he wanted to be an astronomer. "Early" is the operative word here: Sagan was always two steps ahead. He skipped several grades but lost out on being valedictorian in 1950 because of a controversial essay, the first of many instances, Poundstone observes, in which Sagan's "penchant for speculation" offended the powers that be. Tall, gangly, and ambitious, Sagan entered the University of Chicago at age 16 and quickly found the mentors who would be instrumental in his attaining his invaluable interdisciplinary education. Physics, genetics, chemistry, and geology all engaged Sagan as much as astronomy and supported his daring search for extraterrestrial life. As Poundstone, author of a biography of the mathematician John von Neumann (Prisoner's Dilemma, 1992), presents his impressively detailed yet always lucid chronicle of Sagan's life and prodigious achievements, he cites examples of Sagan's "originality of thought," "mischievous sense of humor," "prescient insights" (Sagan was the first to write about the greenhouse effect and global warming), "lyricism," and "genuine charisma," which inspired him to further offend the conservative science world by becoming a popularizer and media darling. Lest Sagan sound too perfect, Poundstone, who is as fluent in the personal as he is in the scientific and political, reveals Sagan's incessant need for attention and failings as a father and husband. But as the author of hundreds of scientific articles and many best-selling books, the creator and star of Cosmos, a driving force in NASA's Viking and Voyager missions, and a key figure in bringing the nuclear arms race to a halt, Sagan will be remembered best as a model of what terrestrial life can attain. Donna Seaman

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Detailed, objective, scientifically savvy 27. April 2000

Von E. Uthman

Format:Gebundene Ausgabe

I just finished the this biography the other night, having read it right after Keay Davidson's competing book. I admit I had to wipe away tears at the end of each.

I thought both books were excellent, although I would give Poundstone a slight edge. I recommend that Sagan enthusiasts read both, and in the order I did--first Davidson, then Poundstone. Davidson's book is a little more linear and narrative, so it gives a better overview. Poundstone's is more detailed, being especially strong in discussion of the purely scientific aspects of Sagan's career. His coverage of the nuclear winter controversy is particularly good. On the other hand, Poundstone jumps around more, so it's easier to follow if you already have Davidson under your belt.

The reason I give Poundstone the edge is that I feel he is more journalistically evenhanded than Davidson, who wastes no opportunity to advance his political agenda. Poundstone is careful to point out the strengths of the arguments of Sagan's opponents, while Davidson dismisses them summarily.

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The better of two biographies of Sagan 30. Juli 2000

Von John Rummel

Carl Sagan : A Life in the Cosmos by William Poundstone; (see also my review at Carl Sagan : A Life by Keay Davidson - this review considers both books)

Carl Sagan is easily the second most famous scientist of the 20th century. If you came of age in the period 1970-1990, you were influenced by Sagan - period. Whatever you may think of him as a scientist, you must admit that nobody did more to popularize science in the public eye during this period. The two most obvious examples are his Cosmos television series and his numerous appearances with Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show.

Poundstone's book reflects Ann Druyan's influence much more than Davidson's. The result is a much more flattering account of Sagan's life, potentially minimizing some of the warts. Davidson, if anything, spends too much effort trying to psychohistorically analyze Sagan's two failed marriages and his fractured relationship with oldest son Dorion.

Davidson also focuses much more attention on Sagan's books, attempting to plot the development of his career as a scientist and maturity as a writer based on each book's unique character. Here again, he attempts to delve below the surface into the hidden motives and influences. For instance, while both Poundstone and Davidson detail Sagan's marijuana use, Davidson goes further and suggests that the Pulitzer-winning Dragon's of Eden was largely a marijuana- induced work.

William Poundstone Focuses more on his scientific achievements, with emphasis on the many conferences he chaired regarding SETI, exobiology, and his work on the Voyager and Mariner probes to Mars and the gas giants. Some of the reviews of the latter actually read like a popular scientific account of these missions, written around Sagan's contribution and perspective.

A very rough generalization would be that Davidson looks more closely at Sagan's personal life while Poundstone looks more closely at his scientific achievemnts, though both books do cover the whole picture. Poundstone's book left me with more of a positive regard for Sagan though, and struck me as the better book of the two. Poundstone's account strikes me as first and foremost a work of scientific biography, with more detail of Sagan's scientific achievements.

A moving, heartfelt written biography! 22. Juli 2000

Von Luis Gallo

Poundstone's "Carl Sagan, A Life in the Cosmos" is a moving, entertaining and informative biography of one of the most loved and controversial scientists of our time. From childhood to maturity, you will get to know the achievements and setbacks of a wonderful and meaningful life. The man, the scientist, the visionary, the husband and father in all his humanity. A superb portrait of an extraordinary human being!